The outcome of nurturing research culture through partnership and collaboration will affect the future of producing knowledge in the basic education sector in the country, UP Visayas Chancellor Clement Camposano emphasized during the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) and partner Department of Education – Schools Division of Iloilo City (DepEd SDO-Iloilo City).
The partnership, formalized through a ceremony on Thursday, 31 March 2022, at the Smallville 21 Hotel in Iloilo City, means that the UPV and DepEd SDO-Iloilo City will be engaging in a year-long series of collaborative activities to develop a culture of research in the Schools Division.
“As teachers, we are in a good position to learn to be producers of knowledge and not just consumers and transmitters of knowledge. This is really one area that the university can help you [DepEd] with. It is through partnership, ongoing collaborations, and arduous work that we nurture the culture of research,” he said.
“We must continue engaging with each other and deepen this relationship,” Camposano added. The UPV Chancellor hopes that research is only the beginning of the partnership with DepEd SDO-Iloilo City. Curriculum and youth development are other areas that he is considering for future collaborations.
Signing of MOA
Aside from Camposano, the ceremony was also graced by DepEd SDO-Iloilo City Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Luz M. de Los Reyes, CESO V, OIC-Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dannie Clark M. Uguil, Chief Education Supervisor for Governance and Operations Division Jerry M. Lego, EdD, Senior Education Program Specialist for Planning and Research Erma I. Gervero, UP Visayas Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Philip Ian P. Padilla, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Alice Joan G. Ferrer, Division of Professional Education Chairperson Prof. Pepito R. Fernandez, Jr., and Community Outreach Program – BIDANI Coordinator Prof. Josephine T. Firmase. The ceremony was witnessed by the UPV ACTI(on) Research Project implementers and advocates and the officers and members of the Editorial Board of the DepEd-SDO Iloilo City.
DepEd SDO-Iloilo City Superintendent Ma. Luz M. de Los Reyes, CESO V, thanked UPV and the ACTI(on) Research Project implementers for “paving the way to create and nurture a culture of research” in the Schools Division of Iloilo City.
“I am greatly honored to be partnering with UP, and the schools' division is very lucky to be the first division in the Region [Western Visayas] to formally sign an agreement with UPV through the ACTIon Research Project,” she said.
“We will cooperate, and we will make sure that ACTIon will be alive all the time in the Schools Division of Iloilo City,” de Los Reyes added.
The signatories and witnessing parties ended the ceremony by raising their right hands and shouting, “We accept the challenge!” signifying their strong commitment to the collaboration.
The UPV ACTI(on) Research Project Team
The ACTI(on) Research Project is UPV’s implementing team for the MOA. It is a public service collaboration between UPV-CAS COP-BIDANI, UPV CAS Division of Professional Education, and individual advocates from other Divisions of UPV-CAS.
The UPV ACTI(on) Research Project Team is led by Prof. Early Sol A. Gadong of the Division of Professional Education (Project Manager) and Mx. John Bert “Rinj” C. Tutisura of the Community Outreach Program/BIDANI (Co-Project Manager). Along with them are the project implementers and a student volunteer.
The project implementers from the Division of Professional Education are: Dr. Lovella S. Divinagracia, Prof. Gerthrode Charlotte Tan-Mabilog, Prof. Dominique J. Maquiran and Prof. Pepito R. Fernandez, Jr.
The COP/BIDANI implementers are Ms. Elna Mariel Nanta and Prof. Josephine T. Firmase.
The UPV CAS individual advocates and student volunteers are Mr. Prabhat Ranjan B. Ubas of the Division of Humanities, who also serves as the Assistant Project Manager, Prof. Augil Marie Q. Robles of the Division of Social Sciences as an implementer, and Ms. Myra Angeline Soriaso of the Communication and Media Studies program of the Division of Humanities as a student volunteer.
